Picking the best electronic drum set under $500 to learn how to play drums can be hard. There are several good electronic drum kits in the $500 price range, so how are you supposed to choose the right one?
Digital drum kits can be difficult to pick out because not all of them sound that great. Some just sound and feel fake. No one wants to play something like that. When you are looking at different drum kits, pay attention to the style of cymbals, how sensitive the pads are, and the sound options that way you’ll find one that will fit your playing style.
Let’s check out some of the most popular $500 electronic drum kits and compare their sounds and feel, so you can narrow down your search.
Compare the Top Electronic Drum Kits Below $500 in 2020
Contents
- 1 Compare the Top Electronic Drum Kits Below $500 in 2020
- 1.1 Yamaha DTX402K Electronic Drum Set
- 1.2 Roland TD-1KV Electronic V-Drums
- 1.3 Alesis Surge Mesh Electronic Drum Kit
- 1.4 Yamaha DTX400K Compact Electronic Drum Set
- 1.5 KAT Percussion KT1 5-Piece Electronic Drum Kit
- 1.6 Behringer XD8USB Digital Drum Set
- 1.7 Alesis DM6 Electric Drum Kit
- 1.8 Vault HD005 Electronic Drum Kit Bundle
- 2 What We Recommend and Why
Here’s a list of the best electronic drum sets and digital kits under $500 with great sound that you need to add to your drum room.
- Yamaha DTX402K
- Roland TD-1KV
- Alesis Surge Mesh
- Yamaha DTX400K
- KAT Percussion KT1
- Behringer XD8USB
- Alesis DM6
- Vault HD005
Yamaha DTX402K Electronic Drum Set
Specs, features, and benefits
When you want to give an example of a brand that has built such a name for itself that its reputation is one that is undisputed worldwide, then Yamaha is a good example. In every industry that this brand has gotten involved in, it has managed to become a leader, music being just one of these.
This brand offers us this affordable electronic drum set with a promise that it delivers way beyond its price point. This is a 7 pad kit that comes loaded with 415 sounds comprising of both drums and percussions. It also has 10 preset drum kits, 10 songs for your practice time and 10 training functions for learners.
This kit is designed primarily for beginners but it offers a lot of value. The pads are of good quality and quiet so you can play anywhere without disturbing those around. They consist of a snare pad, three toms, two cymbals and a hi-hat. You also have a kick pedal as well as a hi-hat pedal.
For connectivity, you can connect to your computer via USB port. You can also control the setup via an iOS or Android app.
Pros and Highlights
- Pads – 7 quiet pads.
- Performance – 10 kit presets, 10 songs and 415 sounds.
- Connectivity – USB port, 1/8 aux in and ¼ headphone output.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Cost – Costs more than many other beginner sets.
Bottom line
This is set is best suited to the beginner as it offers functions that will make learning easier and more effective.
Roland TD-1KV Electronic V-Drums
Specs, features, and benefits
Roland as a brand has brought so much quality into the music industry through various top quality equipment one of which we will be looking at here. We are referring to the TD-1KV Electronic Drum Set.
This is regarded as an entry-level kit but its sound is based on the TD-30 sound engine. If you know TD-30 then you will appreciate this piece of information better.
This kit features 7 pads that enhance expressive play. The pads consist of a 10-inch mesh-head snare with positional play functionality as well as cross stick and rim shot play, two 8-inch pads for the rack toms and a 10 inch pad for the floor tom. Others are two 12-inch crash cymbals and a 13-inch ride cymbal. These have edge and bow sensors as well as a natural swinging motion. The crash pads are also choke control enabled.
The hi-hat is mounted on a regular hi-hat stand which gives it a really realistic feel while the kick pedal plays solidly.
With the 15 included drum kits, you can do much more than learn with this.
Pros and Highlights
- Pads – 7 pads.
- Performance – Snare pad supports positional sensing and cross stick playing/rim shot while cymbals are choke control enabled.
- Connectivity – USB port, aux in, headphone output and D-25 trigger input.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- You cannot create custom kits.
Bottom line
Despite the fact that this is another electronic kit that was designed for the beginner, it still offers a good level of sensitivity that encourages expressiveness.
Alesis Surge Mesh Electronic Drum Kit
Specs, features, and benefits
There is no doubt that Alesis is making great inroads into the electronic drums niche. The dominance of brands like Roland is now seriously being challenged by this brand.
This Surge Mesh kit from Alesis is an 8-piece kit that is solidly built and offers impressive features. It comes with a 10-inch dual zone mesh snare, three 8-inch mesh tom pads (also dual zone), three 10-inch cymbals (hi-hat, ride and crash). The crash is choke control enabled. It also comes with an 8-inch mesh kick drum tower and pedal for a really realistic look and feel.
For tones, you get 40 kits and 385 sounds. You also have 60 songs to which you can play along to hone your drumming skills. You can record your play sessions using the on-board sequencer, you can use the kit to trigger your virtual drums instrument in your DAW and of course you can connect your mp3 to jam to your favorite tunes.
This is a kit that can fit nicely into your studio, live gig or personal rehearsal space.
Pros and Highlights
- Pads – 8 highly sensitive mesh pads.
- Performance – 40 kits, 385 sounds and 60 songs.
- Connectivity – USB, aux in, headphone out.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Instructions – May need careful study.
Bottom line
While this is not a really high-end kit, it is one that offers great value especially at the price point. It will serve a beginner and a more advanced player well and can certainly hold its own on practically any stage.
Yamaha DTX400K Compact Electronic Drum Set
Specs, features, and benefits
It’s Yamaha again and this time we are looking at something slightly more affordable than the previously reviewed model. This is the DTX400k, a compact, 7-piece set.
This kit features four 7-inch drum pads and three 10-inch cymbal pads which all enhance dynamism in play all thanks to the accent articulation feature. It comes with 10 preset kits which can also be customized to create your own unique kit and you get lessons that have been built-in to assist in your learning or practice process. In addition to this, you have about 297 quality sounds to choose from.
Making use of this kit is very easy. Aside from the quite simple control, you can also access different aspects of this kit with the different iOS Apps. With these you can access drum lessons, customize your kit, learn the drum parts of midi songs and also download new songs into the module.
This kit is great for the beginner as it offers everything they need to learn and grow. It will however also serve more advanced players both in the studio and in live applications.
Pros and Highlights
- Pads – 7 pads with accent articulation.
- Performance – 10 customizable kits, 297 sounds, 10 songs and 10 lessons.
- Connectivity – USB, 1/8 aux in and ¼ headphone out.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Kick – May not feel very realistic.
Bottom line
For a beginner or intermediate drummer who needs a rehearsal kit but does not want to spend so much, this is the kit to go for.
KAT Percussion KT1 5-Piece Electronic Drum Kit
Specs, features, and benefits
KAT Percussion may not be one of those names that will quickly jump out at you when you think of electronic drums. However, it is a brand that has been making steady but gradual progress in this niche since its inception in 1985.
We are looking at the KT1, a 5-piece (7-pad) electronic drum set. These consist of five 8-inch single zone pads for snare, kick and toms. You also have three single zone cymbal pads for hi-hat, crash and ride. The crash is choke control enabled and the kick comes with a tower that is shock absorbent.
This kit offers 10 preset kits that can also be reprogrammed by the user, 158 drum sounds and 40 tracks that you can play along to. It also offers features like metronome track, about 9 time signatures and other tools that will make your practice time very effective.
It is very easy to use and the LED display helps keep it all simple. Should you choose, you can connect to your computer via USB for use with your DAW or virtual instrument.
Pros and Highlights
- Pads – 8 single zone pads.
- Performance – 10 preset kits, 158 sounds and 40 play-along tracks.
- Connectivity – USB, headphone out and aux in.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Pads – All the pads are single zone which can be restrictive and unrealistic.
Bottom line
Without doubt, this is a kit that a beginner will find useful for learning. It can however be a bit tonally restrictive mainly because all the pads are single zone.
Behringer XD8USB Digital Drum Set
Specs, features, and benefits
The brand Behringer has indeed come a long way. There was a time when it was regarded as a brand for cheap products. While its products are still largely competitively priced and while it still fully caters to the needs of musicians with slimmer budgets, the brand has also shown that good quality equipment does not have to be expensive.
The XD8USB is a good example of what this brand offers. This is an 8-piece electronic kit (three 12-inch cymbals, three 8-inch tom pads, a hi-hat control pedal and a kick pedal and pad) that offers great value. The pads are velocity sensitive and the snare features a dual-zone pad for head and rim shot plays.
This kit is ready to rock n roll from the get go. It comes with 15 drum kit presets, five of which are user programmable, and 123 sounds that you can choose from. You can also connect it to your DAW to trigger sounds from your virtual instrument for performance or recording.
For personal practice, you can connect your iPod or mp3 player to the system via the aux input so you can play along with your favorite songs.
Pros and Highlights
- Pads – 8 velocity sensitive pads.
- Performance – 15 preset kits and 123 sounds.
- Connectivity – USB, 1/8 aux in and ¼ headphone output
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Crash – Doesn’t have choke control.
Bottom line
The great thing about this kit is its balance of value and cost. It will serve a beginner and more advanced player.
Alesis DM6 Electric Drum Kit
Specs, features, and benefits
It’s another one from Alesis and it’s a bit more affordable than the previous one we looked at. This is an affordable 7-piece kit that has a realistic feel and a great sound. The pads consist of a 9-inch snare pad, three 8-inch tom pads and three 10-inch cymbal pads (hi-hat, crash and ride).
It comes loaded with 10 drum sets and you can add your own five custom sets from the over 108 drum, percussion and cymbal sounds. You also get 40 songs that you can play along to.
This can fit into your home studio setup and be connected via USB to your DAW for triggering your virtual instruments. Other connectivity options include an aux input for playing your own songs as well as an output for headphones and connection to an external amplifier.
While this is not really a professional kit, it can fit into most beginner and moderate setups that can do without dual zones in the pads. It comes with a drum throne, drum sticks, headphones and other accessories.
Pros and Highlights
- Pads – 7 rubber pads.
- Performance – 10 preset kits, 5 user kits, over 100 sounds and 40 play along songs.
- Connectivity – USB, aux in and headphone output.
Cons and Potential Flaws
The no pad is dual zone enabled which reduces realistic play.
Bottom line
This is a nice beginner kit. It does not offer much by way of a natural or realistic feel which is why more advanced players will not like it. It is best for learners.
Vault HD005 Electronic Drum Kit Bundle
Specs, features, and benefits
Vault Music is probably not among the more common brands in the music industry. It is however a brand that was born out of the need to offer quality instruments to musicians at affordable prices.
The HD005 8-Piece Electronic Drum Kit is one such offerings. This is a bundle clearly designed for the beginner musician as it comes with practically everything a drummer needs to learn.
The kit includes 8 pieces – an 8-inch snare pad, three 8-inch tom pads, and three 12-inch cymbals (hi-hat, crash and ride). There are also the hi-hat control pedal and the kick pedal.
In the module, you get 20 preset drum kits, 184 sounds, 50 songs that you can play along to (with a drum on/off feature) and of course a metronome to help you stay in time.
This kit can be connected to your computer for DAW recording or triggering of virtual instruments and you also have an aux input for connecting your mp3 player or smartphone. There’s also the output for headphones or connection to an external speaker.
The bundle includes a drum throne, drum sticks, instructional material and cleaning cloth.
Pros and Highlights
- Pads – 8 pads.
- Performance – 20 preset drum kits, 184 sounds and 50 play along songs.
- Connectivity – USB, aux in and headphone output.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No choke and dual zone features.
Bottom line
This is another good kit for a beginner. The absence of features such as choke for the crash and dual zone even for the snare will reduce its appeal.
What We Recommend and Why
It’s been a wonderful experience looking through these eight electronic drum kits. We’ve seen some really great and affordable kits but we must now choose one that will be named our Top Electronic Drum Set Under $500.
After duly looking at all the features and value that each one offers, we have chosen the Alesis Surge Mesh Electronic Drum Kit as our Top Electronic Drum Set Under $500 because we think it offers the best balance of value and cost.